A Patient-centered Trial of a Process-of-care Intervention in Hospitalized AKI Patients: the COPE-AKI Trial

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Aged ≥ 18 years 2. Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Stage 2/3 AKI with evidence of persistent AKI (defined as meeting Stage 2+ AKI for 2 consecutive days with serum creatinine concentration measurements \>12 hours apart) Exclusion Criteria: 1. AKI due to primary glomerulonephritis, renal vasculitis, or thrombotic microangiopathy 2. Diagnosis of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) at the time of admission, defined as: 1. Baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \<15 mL/min/1.73m2 2. Previous kidney transplant recipient 3. On chronic dialysis 3. Acute urinary obstruction with rapid kidney function improvement following relief of obstruction 4. Index hospitalization involving nephrectomy 5. Index hospitalization involving solid organ transplant or stem cell/bone marrow transplant 6. Continued dialysis dependence at time of discharge 7. Previous (within 6 months) or new referral to a nephrologist for care specifically for: 1. Previous or new diagnosis of glomerulonephritis 2. Primary electrolyte imbalance disorders unrelated to AKI (e.g., syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, Bartter syndrome) 3. Active treatment for acute interstitial nephritis 8. Non-kidney end-organ failure: 1. Class IV congestive heart failure 2. Decompensated cirrhosis with Model For End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) \> 30 or those with a diagnosis of hepatorenal syndrome by the clinical teams 3. End-stage pulmonary disease (advanced stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension) 9. Metastatic malignancy or malignancy requiring active treatment (chemotherapy, immunotherapy), such as multiple myeloma 10. Primary goal of care is palliation: life expectancy \<6 months 11. Pregnancy 12. Vulnerable populations 1. Persons incarcerated 2. Persons institutionalized 13. Inability to provide informed consent a. Impaired cognition as demonstrated by the Brief Confusion Assessment Method (bCAM) 14. Concurrent enrollment in a separate greater than minimal risk interventional trial 15. Inability to participate in either in-person or remote visits a. Inability to participate as determined by the research team at time of discharge based on disposition (vs uniform decision across site about exclusion based on SNF) 16. Discharge to long-term acute care facility or other hospital-based location